ARE YOU AN

INSIDER

Nike Is Creating a Hijab for Female Athletes

Nike's latest news is a huge win for inclusivity: The brand has officially unveiled its new Pro Hijab. Set to launch early next year, the performance-ready hijab is specifically designed for female athletes—but as the brand reminded us in a press release, "If you have a body, you're an athlete."

Nike designed the hijab to solve a specific problem. "Over recent years, meetings at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, with top-flight athletes have illuminated performance problems associated with wearing a traditional hijab during competition," Nike explained in a press release. "For example, Amna Al Haddad, a female weightlifter from the United Arab Emirates, recounted how the garment's weight, the potential for it to shift during action, and its lack of breathability disrupted her focus."

The prototypes were tested by both Nike professional athletes (like figure skater Zahra Lari) and everyday athletes from the Middle East. The result is an expertly designed item that boasts a perfect fit, high-tech fabric, and everything else you'd expect from a Nike piece.

Scroll down to preview Nike's new Pro Hijab, set to be released early next year.